promising kosovo

8/9/2019 Promising Kosovo

1/61

PROMISING KOSOVOKaltrina Hoxha

Drenushë Xhemajli Alban Zeka Artë RetkoceriKade LeniqiYlli TafarshikuBlerta Zogiani

Arbër HajrizajDarsei Canhasi


2/61

PROMISING KOSOVO ThinkYoung Essay Competition 2010

“Advocacy for Young People of Kosovo” (February-May 2010)

October 2010


3/61


4/61

5 Preface

9 Chapter 1: Economy

11 Kosovo: How can Education Stimulate Economic Development? KALTRINA HOXHA

17 The Economy of Kosova – Implementing a Monetary

Policy in Kosova DRENUSHË XHEMAJLI21 The Economy of Kosovo – Privatization ALBAN ZEKA

27 Chapter 2: Information Society

29 Information Society ARTË RETKOCERI

33 Chapter 3: European Union35 The European Union KADE LENIQI

41 The European Union YLLI TAFARSHIKU

45 Chapter 4: Culture

47 Woman Emancipation in Kosova BLERTA ZOGIANI

51 The Only Child Phenomenon ARBËR HAJRIZAJ

57 Albanian Culture – What is the signicance ofAlbanian hospitality? What are the other culture

virtues? DARSEI CANHASI


5/61


6/61

5

Preface

Y oung people dare. Some of them are inspired by career chances,

some by their ideals, some dare for the passion and the fun of

it. Young people inspire for change, growth, development. Tey

look for opportunities, adapt easily and work committed in fulfilling goals.

In this very mobile and fast changing environment where we live in, youngpeople are considered as important resources which can help society towards

higher prosperity, open-mindedness and understanding among people. Can

and furthermore how can young people be trusted with important tasks? Are

young talents today in short supply?

Te European Union, as a multinational institution coordinating politics

and economy, promoting development and peace within common borders,

faces different challenges. Youth development and EU Enlargement belong tothese challenges. How much attention and investment does European youth

need? Should they be more involved in the policy making processes? And what

is the European Union doing in the meanwhile? TinkYoung has emerged as

an international organization of young people for young people, raising the

importance of youth involvement in the lobbying and decision making process

at European level. Our work brought us also to Kosovo, a European country

where more than half of the population is younger than 26 years and which is

still left without any concrete European Union perspective. Tese two facts cre-

ated the basis for our Kosovo project idea and we decided to address the topic

of EU Enlargement from a unique perspective. Based on our research we think

that there is a need that the European Union perceives Kosovo as a country

of talented individuals who have concrete ideas on how to develop themselves

and their country, who have concrete short- and middle-term requests to the

European Union policy makers, who have an opinion about the relations of

their country to the European Union and who have desires and dreams to share with their same-aged colleagues in the European Union countries.


7/61


8/61

7

PREFACE

Co-organizers

TinkYoung

UNI Group

Organizing Team of the Essay Competition

Lindita Komani

Andrea Gerosa

Azzurra Giorgio

Valmir Mustafa

Jury Members of the Essay Competition

Prof. Dr. Nebi Caka

Ardian Harri, PhD

Gjejlane Hoxha (Belegu)

Uk Lushi

Dritan Mezini William Wechsler, PhD

Editors of “Promising Kosovo”

Lindita Komani

Andrea Gerosa

Cover & Book Design

Roland Lelaj

For more information on the project and Tink Young,

visit: http://www.thinkyoung.eu


9/61

PROMISING KOSOVO

8

Donors and Sponsors of this project

Kosovo Foundation for Open Society Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of the Republic of Kosovo

Universum Institute for Economic and Social Studies

Other supporters of this project

Institute Alb-Shkenca Kosovar Stability Initiative

Student Resource Hub Prishtina

Copyright statement

Except as otherwise expressly permitted under copyright law, this book

may not be copied, reproduced, republished, printed and riprinted or trans-mitted in any way without first obtaining TinkYoung’s written permission

and the permission of its editors Lindita Komani and Andrea Gerosa.

Te authors own the right to republish and distribute their essays in this

book separately.

Notes on this publication

Tis publication is intended only for dissemination reasons of the resultsof the project “Advocacy for Young People of Kosovo”. Te printing and

reprinting of the publication is planned only in case of financial support by

donors or sponsors.

Biographical data of the authors of the essays are as of April 2010.


10/61

CHAPTER 1

Economy


11/61

10

Kaltrina is a student of Applied

Arts and Science at the Ameri-

can University in Kosovo with

major concentrations in Eco-

nomics and Statistics and Pub-

lic Policy and minor concentra-tion in International Relations.

Prior to her studies at AUK she

has had two years of high school

studies in the United Kingdom

where she received a full academic scholarship for two years of

studies at the Mount School York.

Despite her very young age, Ms. Hoxha is very active in

extracurricular activities and has gained a wealth of experience

in civil society and social issues since her early teenage years.

During her high school time she has been working for a junior

enterprise at her school in the UK, has been participant in sev-

eral debated and student conferences. In 2008, she joined some

200 students from across the world at the Bath International

Student Model United Nations conference, where she success-

fully represented and advocated sovereignty for the newly independent state of Kosovo. She has also participated in Students in

Free Enterprise (SIFE) – Global Business Plan Competition.

Ms. Hoxha has volunteered at SOS Kinderdorf in Prishti-

na and has been gathering job experience as Project Assistant at

BIRN Kosovo, a successful NGO in media development. Recently

she has had also training sessions at the European Commission

Liaison Office in Prishtina. She is fluent in Albanian, English,

and urkish and has basic knowledge of Serb language.

Kaltrina Hoxha (age 19)


12/61

11

Kosovo: How can Education StimulateEconomic Development?

A

t some point in life, everyone has been in situations when parents

have repeatedly stressed that education is paramount to one’s de-

velopment. At the time, one is unable to realize the significance

that academic development could have on a wider social and national extent.

Te introduction of the first steam engine in 18th century – the Industrial

Revolution – resulted in prosperity in almost all areas of life first in the United

Kingdom, and later in the rest of the Western Europe, which shaped a new

worldview, placing education as one of the top measures to consider, when de-

termining a country’s growth. Plenty examples of different countries in vary-

ing times through history, illustrate how increased levels of investment in edu-cation have been pivotal to the economic development in the long-run. Te

case of Kosovo, unfortunately, is similar to the countries that were late or for

different political reasons were not able to make good use of this already estab-

lished and proven relationship. By looking at the successes of other countries

in having education as a tool to increase the involvement of youth in economy

and to foster entrepreneurial spirit among them, this essay will focus on how

these examples could be adapted to the case of Kosovo, for it to achieve higher

rates of growth in the long run.

Before going into argumentation however, it is important to define both

education and economic development in the context of their relation to clarify

the standards used to draw the final conclusion of the essay. Many dictionaries

define education as the process of gaining knowledge and economic develop-

ment as the social and technological reformations taking place in a country’s

economy 1. Te combination of these two definitions gives the output of a

1 Source: Economic Development. DEPweb: Beyond Economic Growth. World Bank.


13/61

12

PROMISING KOSOVO

positive multiplier effect, where higher investments in education would result

in a more knowledgeable output from universities, hence a more knowledge-

able workforce, which would create fertile grounds for an increase in the pro-

ductivity of a country.Plenty of scholarly work has focused on education being directly correlated

with economic growth. Te arguments generally rest on two distinct aspects:

building capacities of the human resources, in our case of university gradu-

ates, for a more productive labor force2; and on the fact that education is an

essential aspect of developing or adapting working knowledge that suit best to

a country’s local production3.

Many scholars have stressed the importance of student enrollment in univer-

sity as a factor boosting the quality of labor force and as a result the productivity

of a country 4. A great example in this sense, comes from Ireland, which in the

period 1995-20075 experienced a rapid economic growth, believed to be the re-

sult of a four-decade investment in enhancing enrollment rates in higher educa-

tion institutions, as well as the introduction of educational programs designed

to combine students’ abilities with the needs of the economy. Te fourty year

investment in designing programs to stimulate youth to obtain qualifications was

further strengthened with the reformation which did also turn the focus for studiestowards fields that needed improvement and that were necessary for the national

economy 6. Applying the same principle to Kosovo, one identifies the high en-

rollment but unfortunately the low rate of graduation from the public univer-

sity 7. According to official data obtained from the Statistical Office of Kosovo,

the number of students enrolled in the academic year 2005-2006 in all faculties

2 Labour is one of the four resources of economy-land, labor, capital and entrepreneurial ability.3 Popescu, Cristian C., and Laura Diaconu. “Te relationship between the level of education andthe development state of a country” (2009): 475-80.4 Lange F., opel R., Te Social Value of Education and Human Capital , Amsterdam:Handbookof Education Economics, 2005.5 Tis is also known as the Celtic iger, noting the economic boom experienced in Ireland inthe twelve-year period.6 Harris, William C. “Secrets of the Celtic iger: Act wo” Issues in Science & echnology 21.4(2005): 23-27. Academic Search Elite . EBSCO. Web. 8 May 2010.

7 Te essay excludes the participation and graduation rates of students in private universities,as no data is available.


14/61

13

KOSOVO: HOW CAN EDUCATION STIMULATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?

of the University of Prishtina is 28,7078, and the number of students graduat-

ing in 20089, which is the expected year of graduation for them according to the

Bologna System10, is only 5,71711. A simple analysis of this information provides

with the number of students expected to join the labor market, hence their directinvolvement in Kosovo’s economy. While the resulting number of graduates seems

very low, one has to be concerned also with the low rate of participation of this

age group in the labor market. Additionally, annual analysis of the labor market in

200812 shows that most of the workforce in Kosovo is concentrated on jobs related

to individual and wholesale trading, while the least concentration of the workforce

is on the fields of mining, real estate and finance, which is an indicator that Kosovo

is still very behind in development towards a modern, service-oriented economy.

Building further on the example of Ireland, educational authorities should also

be the bridge linking students with companies, or government institutions that

are willing to employ them, according to a Work-Study program. Tese would be

excellent opportunities for higher education students to engage in the labor mar-

ket, where if nothing else, they will be able to combine the knowledge they acquire

during studies with the expertise of the workplace in their relevant field of study.

Another aspect that the scholars believe education impacts economic develop-

ment rests on the argument of education being the key tool in developing newknowledge and technologies, adaptable to national output. Scholars claim that

the development pace of some countries is a result of education systems which

create fertile grounds for labor force to innovate new technologies, necessary

for boosting the national output13. Since 1999, China has moved the focus of

studies towards science, engineering and management related fields, for stu-

dents to equip themselves with the necessary know-how of fields which are

8 Source: Statistical Office of Kosovo, Statistics of Education 2005-2006.9 Source: Statistical Office of Kosovo, Statistics of Education 2007-2008.10 According to information on the website of the Ministry of Education, the University ofPrishtina is part of the Bologna System since 2001.11 Given that the Statistical Office of Kosovo provides with the overall number of graduates peryear, there is a possibility for this number not to reflect the real situation, as it may also take intoaccount student who have enrolled in the University of Prishtina prior to 2005-2006 academicyear but have graduated in 2008, which in turn should be even more concerning.12 Source: Statistical Office of Kosovo, Statistics of Labour Market 2008.

13 Harmon, C., Oosterbeek, H., Walker, I., “Te Returns to Education. A Review of Evidence, Is-sues and Deficiencies in the Literature”, Centre for the Economics of Education, LSE, 2000.


15/61

PROMISING KOSOVO

14

needed to fulfill China’s economic goals. In addition to this, China has also

encouraged studying abroad, where students would acquire knowledge and

skills on modern technology, harness these and finally convert and adapt them

to the production process of national output. Faith that China has put towardshigh-end knowledge on technology has paid off, as evidence shows China’s ten-

dency to become the future technological and economical power on regional

and global levels14. aking into account the example of China, one should also

analyze the student allocation in different faculties of University of Prishtina.

While mining, finance and real estate have been identified as areas lacking pro-

fessional workers in the field, the student enrollment in these faculties reveals

a discrepancy in allocation. According to 2007-2008 education statistics15,

students that graduated from the faculties of Mining, Economics and Law

are 55, 386, and 286 respectively. Tis shows that there is a small number of

students focusing on mining, and that the students graduating from faculties

of Economics and Law do not get involved in, or are not suitable in the fields

of finance and real estate, which have been identified with lack of labor force.

Terefore, one could easily conclude that in Kosovo there is no stimulation of

graduates to join the labor force in these fields or that despite the high number

of graduates, in the case of faculties of Economics and Law, the knowledgethey acquire is not relevant to what the national growth demands. However, a

positive development in the recent years is the focus the Ministry of Education

has put on promoting higher education programs in a number of institutions

around the world. Nevertheless, the problem of free movement remains a dis-

advantage to many students who are equipped to meet the enrollment criteria

in these institutions. In this sense, many students are put down of joining

international universities where they could obtain degrees in fields which are

necessary to the economic development of Kosovo. A more liberal visa regime

applied to Kosovo16, could enable higher economic prosperity levels of Kosovo

as upon returning, these graduates would have been assets to their respective

industries in Kosovo, because they would join the labor force of their field of

14 Simon, Denis Fred, and Cao Cong. “China’s Future: Have alent, Will Trive.” Issues in Science& echnology 26.1 (2009): 29-42.

15 Source: Statistical Office of Kosovo, Statistics of Education 2007-2008.16 Te Schengen White List Project - ESI.” European Stability Initiative - ESI . N.p., n.d.


16/61

15

KOSOVO: HOW CAN EDUCATION STIMULATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?

study. In this way, Kosovo could benefit from a highly qualified human capital,

which would apply and adapt the knowledge acquired during studies abroad

to the needs and deficiencies of the Kosovar national output.

In conclusion, as the experience of other countries shows, there are certainmeasures to be taken that could lead to higher national development rates.

By encouraging enrollment in higher education, providing work-study op-

portunities to students and ultimately reforming the education system in ac-

cordance to the national economic goals, in the long-run education can prove

to be the most efficient tool that would place Kosovo higher in the global

GDP rankings. In hopes of such reform taking place in education, the much

supported relationship between education and economic development might

well hold true for the case of Kosovo.

Works CitedEconomic Development. “DEPweb: Beyond Economic Growth.” World Bank. Web. 6 May

2010. http://www.worldbank.org/depweb/english/beyond/global/glossary.html.

Harmon, C., Oosterbeek, H., Walker, I., “Te Returns to Education. A Review of Evidence,

Issues and Deficiencies in the Literature”, Centre for the Economics of Education, LSE, 2000

Harris, William C. “Secrets of the Celtic iger: Act wo.” Issues in Science & echnology 21.4

(2005): 23-27. Academic Search Elite. EBSCO. Web. 8 May 2010.

Lange, F., opel, R., Te Social Value of Education and Human Capital, Amsterdam: Hand-

book of Education Economics, 2005.

Popescu, Cristian C., and Laura Diaconu. “Te Relationship Between the Level of Education

and the Development State of a Country.” (2009): 475-80. FEAA. Facultatea de Economie si Ad-

ministrarea Afacerilor, 2009. Web. 6 May 2010. http://anale.feaa.uaic.ro/anale/resurse/37_E06_Po-

pescuDiaconu.pdf.

Republic of Kosovo. Ministry of Public Administration. Statistical Office of Kosovo. StatistikatE Arsimit Në Kosovë 2005/2006. Ministry of Public Administration, Apr. 2008.

Republic of Kosovo. Ministry of Public Administration. Statistical Office of Kosovo. Statistikat

e Arsimit 2007/2008. Ministry of Public Administration, Apr. 2009.

Republic of Kosovo. Ministry of Public Administration. Statistical Office of Kosovo. Statistikat

E regut të Punës 2008. Ministry of Public Administration, Feb. 2010.

Simon, Denis Fred, and Cao Cong. “China’s Future: Have alent, Will Trive.” Issues in Sci-

ence & echnology 26.1 (2009): 29-42. Academic Search Elite. EBSCO. Web. 8 May 201.

Te Schengen White List Project - ESI. European Stability Initiative - ESI. N.p., n.d. Web. 9

May 2010. http://www.esiweb.org/index.php?lang=en&id=342.


17/61

16

Drenushë is a student of Bach-

elor Degree in Applied Arts and

Science at the American Univer-

sity in Kosovo with a concentra-

tion in Management and Public

Policy and a minor in Econom-

ics. Ms. Xhemajli has been vol-

unteering in the NGO “Sfera”

which aimed at helping poor

people in Kosovo and has been

member of the NGO “Glocal Youth Parliament” which aimed

at developing different projects for helping youth in need. Ms. Xhemajli has also gathered several job experiences

in form of part-time jobs, full-time jobs and internships at

different enterprises in Prishtina as translator, sales manager,

project coordinator, and product developer. She is fluent in

Albanian, English, German and is beginner in Spanish.

Drenushë Xhemajli (age 22)


18/61

17

The Economy of Kosova – Implementinga Monetary Policy in Kosova

T en years have passed from the last war in Kosova. Before the war

our country was always ruled by someone else and not from itsnative people. After the war, our country was pretty much de-

stroyed and did lack a lot of things. Even though our politicians had the power

to make decisions or take action about certain issues, we also had the interna-

tionals present in Kosova who took the main decisions for us. One of the first

things we needed was development in almost every field. Now, looking back at

the last ten years, Kosova has had a lot of positive achievements.

It is almost two years now that Kosova has become an independent coun-try – the Republic of Kosova. Despite the improvements we should take ac-

tion and push forward the process of implementing policies that are of a huge

importance for Kosova, and could help it become a sustainable country. Ko-

sova needs policies that have been already implemented in almost every other

country and would support its continuing development and the rise in living

standard for its citizens.

Policy optionsIn my opinion, what Kosova lacks most is a monetary policy. With a mon-

etary policy, the government or Central Bank of Kosova would have the control

over the money that circulates within the country and its supply. A monetary

policy enables the country to achieve the objectives it has regarding the stability

and growth of the economy. It also deals with the credit and interest rates that the

country has. In order to have a monetary policy, a country in one way or another

must be ready for its implementation. So, as an independent country, we as citi-zens of Kosova, should have the opportunity to manage and control our money.


19/61

18

PROMISING KOSOVO

Because of this, there are some policy options I would strongly recom-

mend, with regards to a monetary policy in Kosova. Firstly, our politicians say

that we do not have the monetary policy in Kosova, because that would mean

that we should also have our own currency. As this is seen from their perspec-tive as the only reason why we cannot have a monetary policy then for us it

is probably better to come up with our own currency. One of the advantages

of this policy option is that there would finally be a policy that allows us to

manage and control our money without asking someone for permission. Te

government could coordinate the country’s budget in a more proper way and

invest in fields that are still in their first development stages and in fields that

are of local and national interest. On the other side, coming up with our own

currency could harm us in some ways. For example if we want to enter the

European Union, Euro should be our currency. Tis means that, with the cre-

ation of our own money, our chances of entering the EU would be lowered.

A second policy option would be to leave the things as they are today. With

this I mean that one of the options would be to leave our country only with

the fiscal policy. Tis because it would be very time and money consuming to

start implementing the monetary policy in Kosova, as we have huger issues

to deal with at this point in time. Not implementing the monetary policy inKosova would have a lot of disadvantages and of course also some advantages.

An advantage of this option is that, by not implementing the monetary policy

in Kosova, our government could work on improving the fiscal policy that

we already have. But, I think that this policy option has more disadvantages

than advantages. A first disadvantage is that our country would not have the

possibility of managing the inflow and outflow of money. Another disadvan-

tage is that without the monetary policy our Central Bank is not able to print

money.

Moreover, the third and last policy option would be to implement a mon-

etary policy in Kosova, because a country that has a fiscal and a monetary

policy is able to become more sustainable and to get more developed. Our

government could send students from Kosova to other developed countries

for trainings and for completing their studies. A resulting advantage would

be that Kosova would have more professional staff also to deal with the mon-

etary policy in the future. Our own people would want to contribute more to


20/61

19

THE ECONOMY OF KOSOVO – IMPLEMENTING A MONETARY POLICY

their country. But the implementation of the monetary policy would also have

some disadvantages. One of them is that as Kosova never had the experience

of having a monetary policy, we might lack professional staff that would deal

with our country’s monetary policy in the near future.

Recommendations1. I think that the government of Kosova should take into consideration

the third option. In order to be a sustainable country, the economy of that

country has to be developed based on the standards from countries that have

a very well developed economy.

2. In my opinion, the implementation of the monetary policy would have

a lot of benefits for the people living in Kosova. A lot of educated people

abroad would have the opportunity of using their knowledge in Kosova. Peo-

ple that have jobs not related to their profession, would be able to get a job as

an expert, a job that would be actually related to the profession one has got.

People would have the opportunity of working for their own country’s sustain-

ability and development.

3. I think that by having a monetary policy, the fiscal policy of the country would function even more properly. People from Kosova would have the op-

portunity of managing and controlling the money of their own country and

would this way have the chance to invest in those fields where the investments

are more needed.


21/61

20

Alban Zeka is a student of Bachelor Degree in Applied

Arts and Science at the American University in Kosovo. Prior

to the studies AUK in Prishtina he had one year of high school

studies in the US. Mr. Zeka has created two NGO which

aimed at community building in Kosovo, “Kosova Charity”

which followed the aim to investigate the Families in Need

Troughout Kosovo and “Glocal Synergy” which followed

the aims of making Research and Developing Strategies for

Involving Serbian and Albanian Youth Community to the

Social Activities Structured by the Organization.

Mr. Zeka has furthermore gathered job experience as Ac-

count Executive at a Marketing Agency in Prishtina and as Media Chief Officer at an international Marketing Strategy

enterprise. He is fluent in Albanian, English and urkish.

Alban Zeka (age 23)


22/61

21

The Economy of Kosovo – Privatization

A

fter the war, in Kosovo, throughout these ten years, the current

and the past governments have tried to establish a democratic

system with main components such as democratic institutionsand free market as the most suitable system, which would certainly differenti-

ate from the past Yugoslav socialist-communist regime.

One of the main reasons why capitalism has succeeded over socialism was

the freedom that was given to the private sector which is mostly regulated by

itself, or in other words, with no interference by governments. Specifically, ac-

cording to the business dictionary, free market means any deal that brings to-

gether buyers and sellers and there is no interference from the government, and

there are no restrictions throughout this process besides the forces that supply

and demand can bring.

Of course, this has not been an easy path to be followed in Kosovo, and

accordingly, some of the projects which would lead to a very well established

market structure are still being implemented. From a public policy perspec-

tive, there have been tremendous improvements with regards to free elections

in which citizens of Kosovo have the chance to choose the leaders or politi-

cians they sympathize. Moreover, people have their freedom of speech andaction which can be wisely used through protests and other social activities to

address the issues of concern to them.

Te economy of Kosovo still remains a huge problem for our politicians.

According to the statistics which were made public by the Kosovo govern-

ment, more specifically from the Ministry of Economy and rade, from 50%

of people being in poverty, 15% of them are facing extreme poverty. Te aver-

age wage in Kosovo is around 250 euro, which comparing to other countries

in the region is ranked as the lowest in the Balkans (World Bank 2008).


23/61

22

PROMISING KOSOVO

As a result, one of our government’s main priorities is to improve the econ-

omy, which would naturally improve the standard of living for our people.

One of the projects that the government is still in the process of fully imple-

menting is the privatization of all public enterprises. Privatization is meantto prevent the corruption, increase investments, and also on the other hand,

eliminate any possibility for any socialist – communist theory to be imple-

mented. Privatization would ensure a free capitalist market in our country and

would bring it closer to the free democratic western societies.

Even though there are numerous advantages from this process, the privati-

zation process in Kosovo did not result to be as successful as it was expected. In

the following paragraphs, you will get introduced to an analysis made for this

process, in particular, the privatization of Post & elecommunications Com-

pany (PK). For efficiency purposes, the analysis is made based on four main

pillars of Public Policy. Tose four pillars, namely efficiency, equality, security,

and liberty are analyzed from customers’, PK workers’, and economic per-

spective.

Efciency: How does it relate to the privatization of PTK(Post and Telecommunications Company)?

Especially now that there are two phone companies operating in Kosovo,

each of these companies tries to be more efficient in its work or more creative

in order to come up with new and beneficial products or services that will at-

tract customers.

But what is the main problem that PK faces when they want to introduce a

new service to their clients? If they decide to bring in a new product there are cer-

tain procedures that they have to follow, which last more than two or three months

before they are admitted from the government. IPKO in this case can introduce

new services whenever they see it suitable without following the above mentioned

procedures which will give them an advantage in time and flexibility. Tis will

create a tradeoff between the two operating companies and it will make PK less

efficient in their work. Besides PK, also customers will be benefiting from this

privatization because of the increased competitiveness that will be created.

Besides the benefits from privatizing the company, there are also some dis-


24/61

23

THE ECONOMY OF KOSOVO – PRIVATIZATION

advantages when it comes to efficiency. aking into account the financial crisis

which has spread all over the world, this is not the most suitable moment to

privatize PK. At this point of time PK is underestimated. I think that the

government will not be able to sell PK at the price that they could. But ofcourse, there are certain benefits that customers can get by the privatization of

this institution.

After measuring the benefits and disadvantages that this action can have, I

consider that the policy made by the government of Kosovo to privatize PK

is efficient since the new privatized company will increase the efficiency in the

market and will offer people more suitable choices.

EqualityEven though customers will be facing lower prices, there might be in-

equality among workers of this institution. As soon as PK is privatized and

because of the new policies that the new owner can bring, workers can be

dismissed from their work even though they might have been working for

the company for 30 years. As in a new private company, they have to sign a

contract together with all other current workers for three years, but after thatif they don’t meet the criteria set by the private owner they can be fired. Tis

shows no equality among the workers of PK since there are workers that have

been working for a long time and workers who will start working after the

privatization and who were selected in advance by the new owner.

Security Although most of the workers’ securities are issued by the governments,

there are also private companies that issue workers’ securities for their employ-

ees. In her book, Stone discusses the statistics of the increased eagerness to work

by the employees as soon as they are provided with different kind of securities

(social security, pensions, health insurance, etc). I consider security more as a

goal of the government of our country that has to be set and achieved in order

to encourage the citizens to work, which would also increase their efficiency.

Tus in case of a privatization of PK, employees of this company, compared

to employees of other public companies, would only be secured by certain in-


25/61

PROMISING KOSOVO

24

surances that are offered by the government, if the new privatized company

decides not to provide its employees with any additional insurance.

LibertyTis relates to efficiency as well. After privatizing PK, besides efficiency

there will also be freedom or liberty for the leaders of the company to come

up with innovations while not going through the above mentioned procedures

which take two or three months. Tis will save time to the company, and of

course those who will benefit the most from this action taken by the govern-

ment of Kosovo will be the customers.

On the other side, from the workers’ perspective, privatization of PK can

be a threat to liberty. Tey can be dismissed more easily, something that can

hurt them materially, considering this as one of their basic human rights.

Each goal is important in implementing a policy. In my opinion, the gov-

ernment should consider the goals which seem to be beneficial in long term.

Efficiency and Security are the goals which I would consider as of higher pri-

ority. Efficiency would create more competition between the two operating

systems in Kosovo which would lead to higher effective production. Security

is one of the most important goals that the government should consider. Bydoing so, the government will increase productivity which will also lead to

efficiency.

Our government should have established a more efficient, productive,

and effective way of privatizing. Te prices that have been set to the public

enterprises were incredibly high and as a result most of the private owners

have faced a budget shortage. Due to this budget deficiency, since most of the

money has been spent to purchase the company, today private owners are not

able to invest on improvements needed so that these manufactures can func-

tion. Tey are immobilized to even hire the necessary number of employees

which would decrease the unemployment rate which today is one of the main

problems our economy is faced with.

Lower prices of public enterprises in the privatization process would en-

courage foreign companies to invest in Kosovo. Tose companies comparing

to other domestic ones, have much higher investing capacities and can play

a determinant role in improving the economy. Since the privatization pro-


26/61

25

THE ECONOMY OF KOSOVO – PRIVATIZATION

cess includes all sorts of companies starting from small service ones to the

big manufactures, foreign investments would be key factors on building the

infrastructure, and more importantly, they would highly encourage domestic

companies to become as competitive as possible in order for them to survivein the market.

In conclusion, privatization would have many beneficial results; there

would be more money circulating in the country, considerably higher average

income, more supply and demand of products, and higher standard of living.

BibliographyKosovo Poverty Assessment Report (May 08, 2008). Te World Bank. Retrieved

March 29, 2010, from http://web.worldbank.org/WBSIE/EXERNAL/COUN-

RIES/ECAEX/EXECAREGOPHEANU/0,,contentMDK:21761678~menu

PK:511551~pagePK:64215727~piPK:64215696~theSitePK:511545,00.html


27/61


28/61

CHAPTER 2

INFORMATION SOCIETY


29/61

28

Artë Retkoceri has enrolled for a Bachelor Degree in Ap- plied Arts and Science at the American University in Kos-ovo with majors in Manage-ment and Public Policy andminor in Economics. She hasreceived the Degree of “Associ-ate in Applied Science” withHigh Honors from AUK in

May 2009. Ms. Retkoceri

is very active in the community and community buildingactivities, be it as a volunteer or as a member in NGOs.She has participated in several debate tournaments also ininternational level and has had several trainings regardingdebate, public speaking, networking, critical thinking, andconflict transformation.

Ms. Retkoceri has gathered job experience in the USin a “work and travel” program, as a technician at theuniversity library, as a math tutor, and as an assistant andmedia monitor in the course of an internship for a mana-

gerial consulting company in Prishtina. She has receivedExcellence scholarship in the first, second and third year ofstudies and also IPKO Foundation Scholarship in the third

year of studies. She is fluent in Albanian and English andis a beginner in German.

Artë Retkoceri (age 22)


30/61

29

Information Society

Tis year the Internet has been nominated for Nobel Peace Prizeand has already been selected in the short list of candidates. What

would be your arguments in favor of this candidacy with regard tothe impact that the internet has had in your own personal life andin Kosovo's past and present.

Human beings are the most constant changing creatures on Earth.

Starting with ourselves, we witness our tendency to change and

look for further changes. In the very individual level, very often

our life seems to have been stuck in past and no development can be witnessed.Tese harsh times usually lead to difficult periods of life when we don’t see

even one good chance for improvement. However, as soon as that dark feeling

ends, we see brightness; we see the sun, the flowers, we simply see happiness.

Depending on our position regarding mankind and its development, we have

different attitudes and criticize it differently. However, it would be impossible

and unacceptable to live in a modernized society, and not recognize the shape

that information and technology have given to our life. oday industrializedsociety depends heavily on information and the current high-tech life might

be at risk if we as human beings do not protect it properly and misuse it.

“Te Internet is a worldwide system of computer networks – a network of

networks in which users at anyone computer can, if they have permission, get

information from any other computer (and sometimes talk directly to users at

other computers). It was conceived by the Advanced Research Projects Agency

(ARPA) of the U.S. government in 1969 and was first known as the ARPA-

NE” (What is internet?). Tis definition can be considered a short explana-


31/61

PROMISING KOSOVO

30

tion of internet creation and its history. In fact according to the same source,

internet at this time was created as a tool for universities to access information

not only in the same university but also in other ones. So this very widespread

tool to which almost everyone of us has had at least once access, was primarilycreated to make human’s life easier and let them finish different tasks quicker.

But how do people in general see internet today?

In general, citizens who use it more often look more at the positive sides

of internet. Te first one among some of these advantages that its proponents

mention is communication. Many sources cite that as a tool of communication,internet has fastened this process a lot, and furthermore it has made possible for

individuals from different parts of world to talk and see each other at the same

time (Pakhare 3). Another huge advantage of the usage of internet is consid-

ered to be information. In fact, in general it is information what we search foron different web-pages and within a minimum period of time we are wealthier

with information, something which only with difficulty can be achieved by

using other information sources such as books, newspapers, people and oth-

ers (Pakhare 5). Te usage of services such as online banking, purchasing, job

seeking are only some other advantages that internet offers. Furthermore the

internet is also considered as a tool for entertainment where individuals findvarious options to spend their leisure and have fun (Pakhare 7).

On the other end of the line there are criticizers of the internet who claim

that the internet has a very high impact in negative habits of humans. One

of the issues mentioned by opponents is access to personal information. Indeedthis is a very sensitive issue, because when accessing internet there is a higher

possibility that other individuals or sources see our information or even per-

sonal documents (Te Advantages & Disadvantages 5). Furthermore, as a

user of computer, every person is a lot more exposed to spamming and othervirus threats that otherwise would have less chances to reach our computers.

Another very important point that the challengers of internet mention is the

expansion of pornography . Te main concern regarding this issue comes foryoungsters and mainly children, who while being not fully aware of what is

appropriate for them, might access sites that very easily may affect their be-

haviors, culture, and mental development (Te Advantages & Disadvantages

5). Tese posed threats in general are seen as hazardous for the society also be-


32/61

31

INFORMATION SOCIETY

cause of further indirect impacts that they can have in other spheres of life.

With all its positive and negative sides internet has been nominated for the

Nobel Prize. According to Riccardo Luna, editor-in-chief of the Italian edition

of Wired magazine:“Te internet can be considered the first weapon of mass construction,

which we can deploy to destroy hate and conflict and to propagate peace and

democracy” (Wallance 2). aking into consideration these words, we can very

easily see the aim of this nomination. In fact it is true that it is the strongest

tool for information currently, and if used properly it can be very useful to

fight unconstructive and maleficent human behaviors and habits. However,

the internet is already in use, and it is completely up to us as humans to use

it in the most positive way, and achieve the tolerance and peace that we have

been looking for a lifetime long.

Coming back to my own country Kosova, we can see that even though

it is a small country, internet has shaped the lives of the citizens very much.

Internet as a very recent tool has been introduced here not so long time ago.

It became known especially after the war, when foreigners invaded Kosova

not only with new ideas but also new technology. Back then only a significant

number of people had access to this important information tool. However, ithas spread so quickly that today almost every household has access to internet,

including those in most rural areas. Te impact that internet and information

sharing has had in Kosova could be seen as a very important contribution

to the society in which we live in today. Of course that internet has put its

“footprints” negatively and positively on our lives, however according to my

opinion it has pushed Kosova’s society to move with huge steps towards an

industrialized and more civilized world.

As a young citizen of Kosova and as a constant internet user, I can state

that internet has a great effect in my daily activities. If I compare my life at

the time when I did not know about internet and today, I notice huge im-

provements. Internet has enabled me to continuously research for academic

purposes, to communicate with people geographically close to me and very

far away and also to learn new skills about which otherwise I would have

never heard. However, today I feel a lot more related to internet than to many

people around me. Is this just another positive trait of internet, or is internet


33/61

PROMISING KOSOVO

32

creating gaps among humans because of the importance that we are giving to

technology and easily accessible information? Furthermore, the fact that I have

internet access almost at any period of time has led me to spending less time in

reading and relaxing. Is it possible that internet has made us dependent on itand now we do not even find time to relax and at least enjoy our own original

hobbies? Or is it already among the most important hobbies of ours?

Either way, internet doesn’t seem to stop influencing our life and decisions.

Hopefully the human nature does not become destructive as it has shown to

be in the case of many other discoveries. Furthermore, it is important that we

fully utilize each and every device for information sharing in the way that the

nomination for Nobel Prize was intended.

Works cited“Te Advantages & Disadvantages of Te Internet.” Pondered.org. Web. 10 May

2010. .

Pakhare, Jayashree. “Advantages and Disadvantages of the Internet.” Buzzle Web

Portal. Buzzle. Web. 10 May 2010. . Wallance, Lewis. “Wired Backs Internet for Nobel Peace Prize.” Wired. 20 Nov.

2009. Web. 10 May 2010. .

“What Is Internet? - Definition from Whatis.com.” Search Win Development. Web.

10 May 2010. .


34/61

CHAPTER 3

The EUROPEAN UNION


35/61

34

Kade Leniqi is a student ofPolitical Science and Public

Administration at the exasLutheran University in the US.

Ms. Leniqi has already had sev-eral leadership and communityservice experiences in the UnitedStates. She is Community Ser-vice Volunteer at the Center forServant Leadership, was Execu-

tive Committee Leader in the project Water to Trive in Ethi-

opia and Committee Member at the Haiti Relief Project atexas Lutheran University in January 2009. She is student ofLeadership Certificate Program at her univeristy. Ms, Leniqiis winner of the Scholarship for Peace Program at exas Lu-theran University, Te Bislimi Group (Prishtina, Kosovo) andwas also nominated for “2010 Servant Leader of the Year” forstudent category in April 2010 at exas Lutheran University.

Ms. Leniqi is engaged with representing students at herUniversity, is active as Vice-President of the Global StudentOrganization and President of Young Democrats Organi-zation and has also gathered job experience in Kosovo as

journalist/V reporter for a private national television inKosovo, and in the U.S.A. has gathered work experiencein several leadeship job positions in the campus of exasLutheran University. She is fluent in Albanian and English

and can communicate also in Spanish.

Kade Leniqi (age 21)


36/61

35

The European Union

Historical perspective on the relations of Kosovo to Europe (the Eu-ropean Union). Pro and contras on the integration of Kosovo in the

European Union. How does the EU policy towards Kosovo affect thelife of young people? Why is visa liberalization an important topic for Kosovo and especially for Kosovo’s youth?

T he Republic of Kosovo is willing to continue the process of in-

tegration and complete its harmonization with European Union

policies including the legislative, economic and political require-

ments to become a member state of the EU. In the historical context of thepostwar period of Kosovo, the newest country in Europe, citizens, NGOs,

and Kosovo’s leadership have been showing commitment to promote demo-

cratic values in the path leading to integration in the European family and the

worldwide community. Te integration challenges are accompanied by major

changes in the social and economic development of Kosovo. Kosovo’s citizens,

especially Kosovo’s youth, are willing to integrate and accept Europeanization

and also to contribute with policy ideas and proposals that can help meet goalsand EU’s policy expectations. Changing these policies would help to reframe

Kosovo’s international relations to the European Union around the principles

of cultural exchange, stronger education, and economic reciprocity. Tis es-

say will discuss the involvement of the European Union in Kosovo, pros and

cons of the integration of Kosovo into the EU, as well as its effect on the lives

of the citizens while including the importance and the challenges of the visa

liberalization process for Kosovo in the globalization process.

Te newly established Ministry of European Integration is taking over all


37/61

PROMISING KOSOVO

36

the processes that have so far been coordinated by the Agency for Coordination

of Development and European Integration. Specifically, it is coordinating and

implementing the European agenda and also helping the civil society to take

steps towards successfully accomplishing incorporation goals. Te fundamentalreasons for integrating Kosovo into the EU are that hopefully in the near future

Kosovo will have the “… capacities, institutions, and, ultimately, state that will

at some point enable Kosovo to join the post national EU fraternity”, (Pond

104). Specifically, Kosovo and the EU are interested in the Stabilization and

Association Agreement that all other Southeastern states have now signed as the

first step towards being accepted in the EU family as a member state. Moreover,

in order to develop a closer relationship with the EU, these countries will have

to gear their political, economic, and institutional development to the values

and models underpinning the European Union: democracy, respect for human

and minority rights, and a market economy, along with Dayton compliance,

inviolability of borders and good- neighborly relations (Infantis 34).

In addition, various news reports have been emphasizing the reasons for

continuing the deep level of the cooperation between Kosovo and the EU,

such as security and stability in the region of the Balkans. Tese issues regard-

ing the integration process have led to discussions among the officials and thecitizens of Kosovo about opportunities for progress. According to Elizabeth

Pong, author of the article “Te EU’s est in Kosovo”, “the trump card is that

the Kosovar Albanians, like everyone else in the Balkans, yearn to join the EU

of peace and prosperity and must be on their best behavior to qualify. Tis

combination of dependency and hope enhances EU leverage,” (Pond 104).

On the other hand, it needs to be taken into account that not all of the Eu-

ropean states have agreed on the status of Kosovo as an independent state and

present different theories of how to handle Kosovo. However, the European

Union was engaged in Kosovo through the European Commission before the

declaration of independence. Tis was part of the so-called “European Solu-

tion”, which was “a useful euphemism for not having a good solution and

trying to make the best out of it, rather similar to the euphemism of a ‘peace

process’ when this term is used to refer to the absence of a peace agreement

while trying to keep the peace”, (Yannis 164). Te European Union consid-

ered taking responsibility for Kosovo, and ultimately, this process helped in es-


38/61

37

THE EUROPEAN UNION

tablishing EULEX Kosovo (European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo)

after United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)

mission was over in 2008. Te EU is committed to support Kosovo in meeting

the standards for common European values in government institutions, lawenforcement and the judicial system. Nonetheless, at this point there are pros

and con on the integration of Kosovo into the European Union.

Te moment that Kosovo declared itself willing to be part of the EU, a

process of enforcing laws and implementing policies started. Kosovo has be-

gun to embrace the vision of the European Union to meet successfully social,

economic and political needs and challenges. For instance, in the future it has

to support the European Union’s goal to be a strong power on a global level.

aking this into account, Kosovo has to comply on EU’s special issues such

as global climate change, economic growth and reduction of unemployment,

and common defense policy. However, because of its economic stagnation,

at present unfortunately Kosovo is not able to implement these policies but

since it has committed itself to comply with the EU acquis communautaire , itis investing resources and taking steps immediately to be part of integration,

including making visa liberalization plans. According to the Kosovo’s govern-

ment plan called “Visa Liberalization Action Plan 2009-2011” which takesinto account the EU requirements and advice, Kosovo needs to undertake

steps to continue the process of the EU integration, such as providing security,

procuredures and conditions of documentation, cooperating in law enforce-

ment and preventing and fighting the organized crime, terrorism, drugs, cor-

ruption and human trafficking. It also needs to cooperate with the EU law

enforcement agencies regarding the judical system, exiles and migrants and to

provide data protection, as well as maintain respect for human rights, includ-

ing minority protection.

Specifically, the possibility of membership in the EU is encouraging Ko-

sovo even more to implement positive reforms that are influencing in a posi-

tive way the development of internal government and civic structures. At this

point, Kosovo supports the EU’s important role in promoting stability and

prosperity in the region and the world. Additionally, Kosovo wants the EU to

be developed into a genuine single area of freedom, security and justice, where

individuals’ rights are protected and organized crime is efficiently countered.


39/61

PROMISING KOSOVO

38

Also, economic stability and economic growth are one of the main priorities

for Kosovo and represent a specific European Union interest for the future

(Corrin 194).

However, it is important to address the fact that European aspirations arecontinuously influencing the internal state and executive decision making of

Kosovo. For instance, issues of national sovereignty are often brought to the

fore, because Kosovo has to compromise its state interests by implementing

policies required by the European Union. In addition, it is argued that Kosovo

would not succeed regarding immigration EU policies, and as a consequence

the country would experience mass migration by Kosovars into other mem-

bers of the European Union.

According to European Commission information available on its website,

all members of the EU are affected by the flow of international migration and

that is why they have agreed to develop a common immigration policy at the

EU level. Unfortunately, as a result, in the present day there is less regional

economic development and less cooperation between Kosovo and the rest of

the European countries, a state of affairs that affects Kosovo’s economy nega-

tively and brings further social exclusion because its citizens don’t have access

to many opportunities when compared to neighboring countries.Te limited access to social, economic, and political events in Europe has

isolated Kosovo’s citizens and that is a strong reason why the EU needs to in-

clude it in the European family (“BIRN”). Tis change would have an immedi-

ate effect, because of the improvements and empowerment that it would cause

in people’s social and economic status as well as in their standard of living.

Te goal of membership in the European Union has been a driver for

greater prosperity and will improve the quality of life throughout the Republic

of Kosovo.

Te future effect of liberalization of the visa process will provide economic

and security benefits for the state of Kosovo and its overall results would likely

be positive if the EU were to agree that Kosovo will be part of the so-called

White Schengen List or the Visa-free travel for the Western Balkans project.

Tis would create and develop further mutual relationships between Kosovo

and the EU, further extending changes that have already become part of the

conscious Kosovars. Tis support would specifically help the majority of Kos-


40/61

39

THE EUROPEAN UNION

ovo’s population, youth, to become scholars with passion and commitment for

the future, while expanding global intellectual curiosity and learning integrity.

It would ensure furthermore future development through implementing the

EU’s legal mechanisms and making a difference in a developing state throughleadership and commitment.

Bibliography“BIRN” Life in Kosovo interviews Ivica Dacic and Zenun Pajaziti.” BIRN Kosovo.

N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm

Corrin, Chris. “Developing policy on integration and re/construction in Kosova.” De-

velopment in Practice 13.2/3 (2003): 189. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=7&hid=101&sid=d4e19623-5-

af0-4333-a9e9-86d35256beb6%40sessionmgr111&bdata=JmxvZ2lucGFnZ1Mb2dpbi5hc3Amc2l0Z1laG9zdC1saXZlJnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#db=a9h&AN=9895117

“External cooperation programmes - European Commission.” EUROPA - European

Commission

Homepage. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm

Ifantis, Kostas. “Te Politics of Order Building? Reviewing Western Policy in Kosovo

and Southeast Europe.” Journal of Southeast European & Black Sea Studies 2.2 (2002): 21.

Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=27&hid=104&sid=d4e19623-5af0-4333-a9e9-86d35256beb6%

40sessionmgr111&bdata=JmxvZ2lucGFnZ1Mb2dpbi5hc3Amc2l0Z1laG9zdC1sa

XZlJnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#db=a9h&AN=7389053

Pond, Elizabeth. “Te EU’s est in Kosovo.” Washington Quarterly 31.4 (2008):

97-112.

Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 15 Apr. 2010.

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=54&hid=104&sid=d4e19623-5af0-

4333-a9e9-86d35256beb6%40sessionmgr111&bdata=JmxvZ2lucGFnZ1Mb2dpbi5

hc3Amc2l0Z1laG9zdC1saXZlJnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#db=a9h&AN=34152183

Yannis, Alexandros. “Te politics and geopolitics of the status of Kosovo: the circle

is never round.” Journal of Southeast European & Black Sea Studies 9.1/2 (2009): 161-

170. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 15 Apr. 2010.

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=45&hid=104&sid=d4e19623-5af0-

4333-a9e9-86d35256beb6%40sessionmgr111&bdata=JmxvZ2lucGFnZ1Mb2dpbi5

hc3Amc2l0Z1laG9zdC1saXZlJnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#db=a9h&AN=39452953


41/61

40

Ylli afarshiku is a student ofBachelor Degree at the Ameri-can University in Kosovo withmajor concentration in Man-agement and Public Policyand minor concentration inEconomics and Statistics.

Mr. afarshiku has gath-ered professional experience asbroadcasting man at a private

television in Kosovo. He has been developing the produc-

tion and broadcasting of all news, tv shows, sport program,within the program scheme as an integral part of MasterControl Room and has been managing the V MasterControl Room while being present on job shift.

He is fluent in Albanian and English, has intermediateknowledge of Serbian and can understand also Italian.

Ylli Tafarshiku (age 24)


42/61

41

The European Union

Historical perspective on the relations of Kosovo to Europe (the Eu-ropean Union). Pro and contras on the integration of Kosovo in the

European Union. How does the EU policy towards Kosovo affect thelife of young people? Why is visa liberalization an important topic for Kosovo and especially for Kosovo’s youth?

I t is quite a paradox to think that in the 21 st century, labeled as the

century of globalization where countries are doing their utmost to

lower trading and traveling barriers around the globe and uniting

with each other, a young and small European country in the middle of the

Southeastern part of Europe is left isolated. Still we may better understand thisharsh decision when we take into account the political, economic and social

events that have been taking place, starting with the apartheid and war that

Kosovo went through, the transition period of transferring competences from

international to national institutions and the process of building democratic

institutions.

Kosovo is not only the youngest country in the world that has declared

independence but is also the country with the youngest population in Europe.Te country that has gone through different political and economic systems

throughout the years, from socialism in the mid 70’s and 80’s, to apartheid in

the mid 90’s and to international surveillance after 1999, has one important

aim, to join the big family of European Nations. Te country’s main chal-

lenges remain development of democratic institutions, economic growth and

an efficient judiciary system. Everyone would agree that joining the European

Union and going through the Visa Liberalization process should be a top pri-

ority for the government of Kosovo. It would certainly be a great deal for


43/61

PROMISING KOSOVO

42

an isolated country to join any major international institution and especially

an institution as important as the European Union; however entrance into

the EU and Visa Liberalization would definitely not solve all of the country’s

problems.Visa liberalization would be a major benefit for the young people of Koso-

vo. Visiting Europe’s biggest cities, enriching cultural knowledge, shopping

and partying would not be a major help for a young citizen of a poor devel-

oping country like Kosovo. However being able to travel freely to Europe

without the tiring technical procedures of getting a traveling visa would mean

a lot to a young citizen of Kosovo. First of all it would have an enormous psy-

chological effect on a young citizen to know that he/she is not isolated and left

out anymore. Te feeling of frustration would shade away, as finally a young

citizen of the newest country in the world would know that he/she is wel-

comed into the big European Family. raveling freely into the oldest continent

would allow Kosovo’s young people to improve the image of their country. As

they would travel and get familiarized with Europe and “Europeans,” so also

Europeans would get to know better the newest members of their family. As

more Kosovars would visit Europe, more contacts would be created, more

Europeans would visit Kosovo and a lot more economic opportunities wouldbe created for Kosovo.

Europe could benefit quite a lot from Kosovo’s main potential: young

people. Even though due to the current financial crisis most of the European

Union’s member countries are having economic difficulties as unemployment

rates are getting higher, a lot of countries having ageing population difficulties

could use Kosovo’s labor force. Also countries such as Poland, Czech Repub-

lic and Romania whose labor force has been reduced due to their entrance

into the European Union as a lot of young people have moved to the more

developed European countries, could use Kosovo’s young labor force. While

European Union countries would on one side benefit economically, so would

also Kosovo with the remittances that would be sent home.

However on the other hand is hard to think of a visa liberalization process

for Kosovo being implemented without any difficulties. Opening the doors

and granting free traveling permission to the citizens a country with an un-

employment rate of 50% and a staggering poverty rate of 37% would not be


44/61

43

THE EUROPEAN UNION

one of the greatest ideas. A lot of people not being able to find jobs in Kosovo

market would seek out ways to get out of the country, hoping for employment

in the more developed European countries. Tis would create inefficiencies in

European employment markets since Kosovo’s labor force would be willing to work for lower wages than European Union labor force does. European Union

countries would not be the only ones to be experiencing difficulties in their la-

bor markets but so would also Kosovo’s economy. As the labor force in Kosovo

would drain away so would the number of foreign investors willing to invest in

the country that once used to have the youngest population in the continent.

Difficulties and constraints would not solely be of economic nature. Political

and legal difficulties would arise as European Union member countries would

have to deal with new asylum seekers.

In order to avoid all of this from happening we as young people of Kosovo

together with Kosovo’s government should start acting as soon as possible. Per-

haps we need to understand that becoming a member of European Union and

traveling to Europe without visas would not solve all of the country’s prob-

lems. Te technical requirements such as biometric passports, having defined

and secured borders with the neighboring countries and more are essential

requirements that need to be fulfilled in order to be considered as a potentialcandidate for membership into the European Union and for the Visa Liberal-

ization process. However I believe that the real challenges for the government

remain elsewhere. I don’t believe that entrance into the European Union can

ensure Kosovo that the unemployment rate of 50% will be reduced over night.

I think that the main challenge for Kosovo’s government in order to become a

member of the European Union is economic growth which would reduce the

unemployment rate. Tis objective could be met by attracting foreign inves-

tors to invest in the country, by fighting corruption and ensuring that Kosovo

is a safe place to live in for every citizen and by making sure that everyone

is part of the society. Establishing independent and transparent public insti-

tutions and promoting free speech are challenges that Kosovo’s government

faces. Implementing laws rather than creating and leaving them drafted for

years as well as establishing an efficient judiciary system and solving thousands

of unsolved cases should furthermore be of priority for our government. Tese

policies together with the technical requirements are the real challenges that


45/61

PROMISING KOSOVO

44

Kosovo’s government and society faces.

I do believe in the functionality of the country of Kosovo and its entrance

into the European Union and our way through the Visa liberalization process.

I’m convinced that unlike some neighboring countries that are divided overthe issue of entrance into EU the majority of Kosovo’s citizens would like to

see Kosovo joining the big European family. I do believe that Kosovo’s future

is in the European Union. However in order to achieve this, it is time for us,

the young Europeans together with Kosovo’s institutions to start acting rather

than speaking towards our only path, the European Union.


46/61

CHAPTER 4

CULTURE


47/61

46

Blerta Zogiani (age 20)

Blerta Zogiani is a student ofPsychology at the University ofPrishtina with concentration inGeneral Psychology, Statistics,Psycho-pathology.

Ms. Zogiani has recently participated at a start-up eventin Prishtina and has gathered

job experience as shop assistant.


48/61

47

Woman Emancipation in Kosova

Kosova, a country under development as all countries in the world

continues to face many social, economic as well as cultural prob-

lems. Some of these problems are being solved day by day andperhaps one day only some of them will be still existing, which is quite a nor-

mal process in the development of a society.

If we compare the situation today to that of ten years ago, we can see that

the role of women in our society has evolved a lot. Until recently women

were nothing more than servants to the close family. Only a small percentage

of them had the privilege of receiving education and of advancing beyond,

not because they were not capable, but they were not considered to be able

for that. Teir mind was fed with such ideas about their inability to succeedand as result women grew up by having wrong perceptions about themselves.

Women took care only of raising kids and never thought of their personal

development. Even if sometimes someone asked if they felt a lack in their

lifestyle, it was not surprising if this person got a negative response. How can

you feel the lack of something that you never had, and of which you don’t

know what that looks like? But nowadays finding the answer on this issue is

much easier. Now we have a very different life, compared with the life that ourgrandmothers and mothers had which serves to us as an example of a bitter

past, fortunately never experienced by us.

Our women behaved in a way that was taught to them since they took

breath for the first time. Tey grew up with only one purpose, to keep alive

the concept of the “importance of family”, even if this might make of their

lives a total sacrifice. Ultimately, despite the fact they had to go through all

these difficult situations and sacrifices, nobody around them was thankful. o

make a change in all this suffering, women of the years 2000 introduced some-


49/61

PROMISING KOSOVO

48

thing of which in previous time could only be heard of: rights and freedom

of organization for their own life, education, employment and treatment as

social human beings in our community. Tis decade signed the blossoming of

a flower that had not been irrigated for centuries. Women no longer were seen just as housewives, indispensable unemployed mothers but as huge potentials

for Kosova’s society, and even beyond Kosova’s borders.

Tose women who once didn’t have the chance to receive education and

those who used to have a poor social life, started to realize the dreams they

thought were inaccessible. Day by day, women grew more capable and knowl-

edgeable by contributing with their potential in the development of the soci-

ety. It was not surprising to see how capable they were in what they were doing

though it was surprising to see how they had resigned themselves to their fate.

A major role was played here by their relatives’ willingness to support them.

Jealousy, aggression, doubt, and many other psychological constructs became

an obstacle when it came to the personal advancement of women. Tese con-

structs are inevitable in the life of every human being, up to when they damage

people’s sound reason.

Te only way how they could succeed and beat injustice was through their

work towards reaching their goals. After the last war in 1999 in Kosova, inthe elections that were held in the year 2000 according to the 1244 UN reso-

lution, women won 30% of the seats in the Parliament of Kosova. But this

number did not include all females who are indirectly involved in political

activities and different NGOs.

Women were involved in sport activities too, not only in basketball, vol-

leyball, football or handball, but also in wrestling sports such as judo, karate

or kick-box. Tey never stopped showing everyone how capable they are even

though they had not so many chances to show it. None of these achievements

of the Kosovar women, made them give up the wish of being devoted mothers.

Tey still remain the pillar of the family, committed to duties, obligations and

responsibilities they have taken. Now what not only women but our entire

nation is missing, is the possibility to cross country borders without facing

many obstacles. Nothing is unreachable. Trough work and devotion we will

achieve our goal of opening these borders just like we opened them inside of

our community.


50/61

49

WOMAN EMANCIPATION IN KOSOVO

We want to move on with safe and meaningful steps for the future of our

children and of every person who will become a citizen of Kosova, the country

in which culture, sports and art are being cultivated, the country where tech-

nology is being welcomed and used more and more.Tis development unfortunately does not include every woman in Kosova.

In rural areas, women still continue to have a rough and hard life and remain

discriminated. Tis kind of life affects more young women who after finishing

high school or even primary school do not have many choices, and especially

those young among them for which it is the parents who decide when they

have to stop with their education process and get married. Fortunately this

kind of thinking from the perspective of the parents is disappearing. But what

happens to those women who want to be educated but who because of their

poor financial conditions are forced to quit school? A great number of them

are forced to get married and not lose their youth for “NOHING”.

All these discussible issues show that there is still a conflict between tradi-

tion and modernity. But I am very convinced that with the successes we are

achieving there is a sign for hope. Men reached their highest peaks and now

it is our turn to come on stage. Because behind every man stands a successful

woman, educated or not, traditional or modern.o conclude, we, WOMEN, strongly believe that one day, not very far

from now, we will reach our goals, no matter what it takes. We have waited

so long and the trip ends here. Kosovo’s society is well-known as a society of

healthy families and all this thanks to our women and I am proud to be one of

them and of those who always search for more.


51/61

50

Arbër Hajrizaj (age 22)

Arbër Hajrizaj is a student ofBachelor Degree in Applied

Arts and Science at the Ameri-can University in Kosovo withmajor concentrations in Man-agement, Media and GraphicCommunication and minorconcentration in Economicsand Statistics. Mr. Hajrizaj isactive in many extracurricular

activities. He has been volunteering at “SOS Kinderdorf”

and “Amici dei Bambini” in Kosovo and is a member of the“AUK Charity Club”. Our Future European Integration

2010, Balkan Case Challenge 2010, Peace Camp 2009, AUK’s 3rd Annual Albanological Conference, South EastEurope Future Energy Leadership Conference 2009, aresome events and conferences where Mr. Hajrizaj has been

participating lately. Mr. Hajrizaj has gathered working experience as intern

in the US, as marketing intern in a bank in Prishtina andas an interpreter for International Foundation for Elec-toral Systems during the 2009 mayor elections in Kosovo.He is fluent in Albanian, English and German.


52/61

51

The Only Child Phenomenon

T he only child phenomenon is a fast growing one all over the

world and lately it is also becoming a tendency in our society

even though it is not yet much debated. A single child is a child

without any biological or adopted sibling. A single child is a child without

any biological or adopted sibling. Tis topic is not much debated in Kosovo

other than the stereotyping. Children without siblings usually are given the

reputation of being selfish and spoiled although that is not often the case

as a lot of studies have proven, but it is the human logical assumption that

single children rarely have to share things, and this is why they become self-

ish and because the parents have no one else to fulfill the wishes to, the only

child will get all of them fulfilled. Only children are also often thought to besmarter than their peers. Tis belief comes from the assumption that parents

have more time to observe their single children and they also have more

resources available to engage their children in different educational activi-

ties. Yet no facts have proven these two most known claims made about only

children, to be legitimate assumptions.

Being brought up without siblings I was asked the same question over and

over again: How does it feel not to have any brother or sister? I never felt readyand able to answer this question because I never knew how it feels to have a

sibling, so how was I supposed to tell the difference and at the end I never con-

sidered this to be a big issue. In my mind there was also one question coming

up over and over again: why do people always ask me this same exact question

and put pressure on me with it? As an only child I decided to dig deep into

my thoughts and search thoroughly into online libraries to put on paper valu-

able information concerning the only child phenomenon, and finally give an

adequate answer to the very frequent question I was asked.


53/61

PROMISING KOSOVO

52

o begin with, cases of families with only one child were rarer in the past,

and only children were different from what they are today. “Only children

tended to be shy, over-protected and socially withdrawn” (Pagewise, par.1).

Nowadays psychologists say that this has changed. “Mobility and the resourcesto support an active social life have put an end to that” (Pagewise, par.4). Tey

are just as other children, and that also because they are not a rare case any-

more, many of their classmates are the only child in their families too. “Only

children today are completely different people from those of just a few decades

ago. Not only are they far more numerous, they are happier individuals who

are well-balanced and more socially adept” (Pagewise, par.10). More families

decide to have only one child because of financial reasons, because of potential

divorces, women giving birth at a later age now, and several other reasons.

Families are changing and the psychologist Newman went that far that he

even called the families with only child the “new traditional families” (Juju,

Holmberg par. 12).

My family was never the richest and that was one reason that made my

parents decide to have only one child although this was different from how

families in our neighborhood were formed but my parents knew that if

they had one child they could fulfill him more of his wishes and raise himthe way they wanted to. Another reason I believe why they were firm not

to have more children is because I am a man. Having a boy in our society

means that your family will go on existing and it also means you have one

heir of your wealth and your family traditions will be transferred to the next

generation and they will keep on existing. In the Albanian culture having

a male as a son is important to the family because our culture has patriar-

chal tendencies as a result mostly of lack of education, but that is changing

drastically lately as we see that more and more families have only baby girls

in Kosovo and they are completely comfortable with that fact and they are

proud of their girls.

Furthermore, I never wanted to be different and I never thought that not

having siblings made me different; however during my life people have made

me feel different because of that and the more I grew up the more I knew that

I am different. Te difference can be seen in my personality. Because during

my childhood and adolescence when a person creates his/her personality I had


54/61

53

THE ONLY CHILD PHENOMENON

my “parents’ undivided attention and I developed strong self-worth and con-

fidence” (McKinell, par. 3), and that is also what psychologist Carl Pickhardt

said. Tose traits are a result of the advantages that I had by being an only

child. I believe that I would not be the person that I am today if I were not asingle child. I am not saying that I would be a better or a worse person, but I

would not be the one that I am today just as I would not be the same if I had

been living in a different environment. Te education that I got throughout

my life, the music school, English courses, dancing lessons, the American edu-

cation, were all made available to me from my parents because I was their only

child thus they could afford all the investments. I enjoyed educational, cultur-

al, and travel opportunities that because of financial reasons, would probably

not have been made possible to me if I had siblings. All parents want the best

for their children however the more children they have the more difficult is to

manage and fulfill all the children’s wishes.

As a single child you experience a lot of loneliness. While for others,

siblings are annoying, for single children in some moments it is the one

thing that they need the most. When having troubles with parents there is

no one you can complain about the argument with, on holidays there is no

one to build sandcastles with and sometimes in life you feel that you cannotconnect to peers at school because you were not used to it at home. You do

not learn at home how to behave with your comrades. You have to learn this

at school or somewhere else where you are surrounded by peers, and you

may make mistakes in learning it just like you make mistakes while learning

other things,

promising kosovo

Documents